Mahoney tribute night to raise awareness about violence

It was an arts-and-crafts project with a cause. Some of those birdhouses will be auctioned off in October at the second annual Dr. Hugh, Ruth and John Mahoney Tribute night.

Hugh and Ruth Mahoney and their son, John, were shot to death in their Whipple Road home on New Year’s Eve in 1975. They were discovered by one of their three daughters, Maureen Mahoney.

Six months after the murder, three men were arrested for the crime.

To recognize the 40th anniversary of her family’s slaying and honor their memory, Mahoney organized a tribute night last October that also raised money for four local nonprofit agencies whose goal is to stop domestic violence.

The initiative will continue this year on Oct. 19, with a theme of “Voices Against Violence,” with attention on children. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Since her parents’ and brother’s deaths, Mahoney, who now lives in Florida, has learned about the murderers’ pasts from police.

“They had very troubled childhoods, teen years,” Mahoney said. “That life just led them to where they became violent criminals.”

Westford’s Jody Marchand will speak about the signs of violence and why they should not be ignored, Mahoney said. In 2010, Marchand was shot twice in the face by her husband, Brian Marchand, who killed their daughter, Olivia, 17, and then himself. Marchand started a foundation in memory of her daughter, “Live for Liv.”